Antonio Vivaldi. The unknown life of a famous composer

Date of birth: March 4, 1678
Place of birth: Venice
Country: Italy
Date of death: July 28, 1741

Antonio Vivaldi (Italian: Antonio Lucio Vivaldi) is an Italian composer, violinist, teacher, and conductor.

He studied violin with his father Giovanni Battista Vivaldi, violinist at St. Brand; possibly composition - with Giovanni Legrenzi, and may also have studied with Arcangelo Corelli in Rome.

On September 18, 1693, Vivaldi was tonsured a monk. On September 18, 1700 he was elevated to the rank of deacon. On March 23, 1703, Vivaldi was ordained to the priesthood. On September 1, 1703, he was admitted to the Pietà orphanage as a maestro in violin class. In 1704 he received additional remuneration for teaching the viola d’amore. In 1706, his first public performance took place in the palace of the French embassy.

In 1725 in Amsterdam, the cycle “The Art of Harmony and Invention,” which even then made an indelible impression on listeners with its frantic passion and innovation, includes four world-famous “Four Seasons” concerts. Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who worked at the French embassy in Venice at that time, highly appreciated Vivaldi’s music and loved to perform some of this cycle himself on his favorite flute. Also widely known are Vivaldi's concertos - "La notte" (Night), "Il cardellino" (The Goldfinch), for flute and orchestra, concerto for two mandolins RV532, distinguished by the artistic depiction and harmonic generosity characteristic of his works, as well as spiritual works: " Gloria", "Magnificat", "Stabat Mater", "Dixit Dominus".

In 1703-1725. - teacher, then orchestra conductor and director of concerts, and also from 1713 - director of the orchestra and choir at the Della Pieta in Venice, an orphanage, which was famous as one of the best music schools for girls.

Vivaldi is the largest representative of Italian violin art of the 18th century, who established a new dramatized style of performance. He created the genre of solo instrumental concert and influenced the development of virtuoso violin technique. Master of the ensemble-orchestral concert - concerto grosso.

During his lifetime, Antonio Vivaldi became known as a composer capable of creating a three-act opera in five days and composing many variations on one theme. He became famous throughout Europe as a virtuoso violinist. Only in the 20th century was the publication of the complete collection of Vivaldi’s instrumental concertos undertaken, which was a step towards the formation of a classical symphony. The Italian Vivaldi Institute was created in Siena.

In mid-May 1740, the musician finally left Venice. He arrived in Vienna at an unfortunate time, as Emperor Charles VI had just died and the War of the Austrian Succession had begun. Forgotten by everyone, sick and without a livelihood, he died in Vienna on July 28, 1741. The doctor recorded the death of “the Reverend Don Antonio Vivaldi from internal inflammation.” He was buried in a pauper cemetery for a modest fee.

The composer's opera heritage (approximately 90 operas) has not yet become the property of the world opera stage. It wasn't until the 1990s that Roland Furious was successfully staged in San Francisco. Vivaldi's work had a huge influence not only on contemporary Italian composers, but also on musicians of other nationalities, primarily German. Here it is especially interesting to trace the influence of Vivaldi’s music on J. S. Bach, the greatest German composer of the 1st half of the 18th century. The strengthening of the instrumental-virtuoso character of Bach's thematicism during the Köthen period of his work (1717-1723) is directly related to the study of Vivaldi's music. The inner affinity with Vivaldi's music is palpable in a wide variety of Bach's works, right up to his famous "High" Mass in B minor. The influence that Vivaldi's music had on the German composer was undoubtedly enormous. According to A. Casella, “Bach is his greatest admirer and probably the only one who at that time was able to understand the greatness of the genius of this musician.”

Works of Antonio Vivaldi

More than 40 operas, including “Roland the Imaginary Madman”, “Nero Who Became Caesar”, “The Coronation of Darius”, “Deception Triumphant in Love”, “Farnace”, “Cunegonde”, “Olympiad”, “Griselda”, "Aristides", "Oracle in Messenia", "Theraspes"; oratorios - “Moses, God of Pharaoh”, “Judith Triumphant”, “Adoration of the Magi”, etc.
More than 500 concerts, including:
44 concertos for string orchestra and basso continuo,
49 concherti grossi,
352 concertos for one instrument with string orchestra and/or basso continuo accompaniment (253 for violin, 26 for cello, 6 for viol d'amore, 13 for transverse, 3 for longitudinal flutes, 12 for oboe, 38 for bassoon, 1 for mandolin )
38 concertos for 2 instruments with string orchestra and/or basso continuo accompaniment (25 for violin, 2 for cello, 3 for violin and cello, 2 for horns, 1 for mandolins),
32 concertos for 3 or more instruments with string orchestra and/or basso continuo accompaniment.
More than 100 sonatas for various instruments with basso continuo accompaniment.
Secular cantatas, serenades, symphonies.
Stabat Mater and other ecclesiastical works.
One of the most famous works is the cycle of 4 violin concerts "The Seasons" - an early example of program symphonic music.

Italian composer, violinist, teacher, conductor, Catholic priest. During his lifetime, he received recognition in Europe as a composer and virtuoso violinist, and established a new, so-called “Lombard” style of performance. He is the author of 40 operas, oratorios, and more than 500 concerts. Most Popular Vivaldi received thanks to his violin and instrumental concerts. One of his most famous works is "Four Seasons", written for string orchestra.

Antonio Vivaldi was born on March 4, 1678 in Venice, which was at that time the capital of the Venetian Republic. Antonio's ancestors came from Brescia, where his father was born - Giovanni Battista Vivaldi. Giovanni Battista (nicknamed "Red" for his fiery hair color) moved to Venice around 1670. There for some time he worked as a baker, and then mastered the profession of a barber. In his free time from earning his daily bread, Giovanni Battista played the violin. And he turned out to be such a gifted musician that in 1685 the famous Giovanni Legrenzi, conductor of the Cathedral of St. Mark, accepted him into his orchestra.

The first and most famous of the six children of Giovanni Battista Vivaldi and Camilla Calicchio, Antonio Lucio, was born prematurely due to a sudden earthquake. The boy's parents saw the birth of a new life under such strange circumstances as a sign from above and decided that Antonio should become a priest.

When the future great composer was 15 years old, his tonsure (symbol of the crown of thorns) was shaved, and on March 23, 1703, twenty-five-year-old Antonio Vivaldi was ordained. However, he did not feel a sincere desire to be a priest and soon stopped celebrating mass. Although, as Carlo Goldoni testifies, Vivaldi read his prayer book every day throughout his life.

From his father, Antonio inherited not only his hair color (quite rare among Italians), but also a serious love of music, especially playing the violin. Giovanni Battista himself gave his son his first lessons and brought him to his place in the orchestra of the Cathedral of St. Brand. Antonio studied composition and learned to play the harpsichord and flute. In September 1703, Vivaldi began teaching music at the Ospedale della Pietà orphanage for girls.

The shelter “Ospedale della Pietà” (literally “hospital of compassion”) existed since 1348 and was always famous for the comprehensive (including musical) education that its pupils received.

Vivaldi was associated with this institution for almost his entire life. It must also be said that the composer’s teaching activity was not limited to work as a “maestro di violino” - that is, a violin teacher. Vivaldi gave private lessons to singers and taught them to play the viola. In addition, he conducted the orchestra at rehearsals and concerts when the chief conductor was not present. And he wrote music tirelessly.

In 1705, the Venetian publisher Giuseppe Sala published the first collection of sonatas for three instruments (two violins and bass) by Antonio Vivaldi. The next “portion” of Vivaldi’s violin sonatas was published four years later by Antonio Bortoli. Soon the works of the “red priest” (as Vivaldi Jr. was dubbed by the same Venetian jokers who had previously given the nickname “Red” to his father) acquired extraordinary popularity.

In just a few years, Antonio Vivaldi became the most famous violin composer in Europe. His fame and incredible success is evidenced by the following fact: in 1711-1729. released in Amsterdam twelve collections of instrumental music by Vivaldi, including L "estro armonico ("Harmonic Inspiration"), La stravaganza ("Fad") And II cimento dell"armonia e dell"invenzione ("An experience of harmony and fantasy") - a work that includes famous Le quattro stagioni ("Four Seasons" or simply "Seasons"). Subsequently, Vivaldi's works were published in London and Paris - the then publishing centers of Europe.

In 1713, in Vicenza, Vivaldi presented his first opera to the public. "Escape at the Villa". Over the next five years, he published five more operas, which conquered the largest Venetian theaters. Vivaldi was rapidly transforming from a completely modest “red-haired priest” into a brilliant secular composer.

At the beginning of 1718, he received an invitation to serve as conductor at the court in Mantua. The composer stayed here until 1720, that is, until the death of the wife of his employer, Prince Philip. And here, in Mantua, Vivaldi met an opera singer Anna Giraud. According to researchers, it is Vivaldi who owes much of the credit for the development of Anna Giraud as an opera singer, which is understandable, since Italian opera composers usually had a perfect command of the secrets of vocal technique. First she was his student, then the main performer in his operas and, finally, to everyone's outrage, she became his mistress. This behavior of the composer caused criticism from the clergy. This would later lead to dire consequences for Vivaldi. It is known that in 1738, Cardinal Archbishop Ruffo of Ferrara forbade Vivaldi to enter the city and celebrate Mass in connection with the composer’s fall from grace. At that time, this was considered an unheard of shame and meant for Vivaldi, who once played before the Pope, his complete discredit as a clergyman. Financial losses were no less significant.

After three years of service in Mantua, Vivaldi returned to Venice. Returning to Venice after three years of service in Mantua, Vivaldi devoted himself entirely to theatrical activities. He tried his hand both as an author and as an impresario.

In 1723-1724, Vivaldi reaped triumphant success during three carnival seasons in Rome, a performance in which was considered the most serious test for any composer. Vivaldi performed operas in Rome "Hercules on Thermodon"(1723), "Justin and Virtue, triumphant over love and hate"(1724).

Program concerts became the most popular among contemporaries, especially the famous "Seasons". The first four concertos for violin and string orchestra became famous under this name. They have been continuously performed in Paris since 1728 and were published as a separate edition. In total, 28 instrumental works by Vivaldi are known, endowed with program titles. However, only “Seasons” are programmatic in the true sense of the word. In the Amsterdam edition of 1725, each of the concerts is preceded by a poetic sonnet, the content of which determines the nature of musical development. Judging by the text of the dedication, the concerts of the cycle were known without sonnets long before publication, and their texts may have been composed to ready-made music. The author of the sonnets is not named in the dedication, and it is possible that he was Vivaldi himself. Before publishing the cycle, he thoroughly revised the score to make the programmatic intent of the music more clear.

In concert "Winter"- in the score "Hell"- the composer reaches the heights of artistic expression. Already in the first bars the feeling of piercing winter cold is masterfully conveyed. Then, with striking clarity, the impact of raindrops on the window, the slide on skates and the sudden fall of the skater, the cracking of the ice and, finally, the frantic struggle of the southern sirocco with the northern wind are reproduced.

Truly innovative in concept, the “Seasons” cycle was significantly ahead of its time, anticipating the searches in the field of program music of the romantic composers of the 19th century.

During the Carnival of 1734, spectators at the Teatro Sant'Angelo saw Vivaldi's new opera with a libretto "Olympics" Metastasio is one of the most famous works of the poet-playwright. Such a multifaceted plot in terms of dramatic collisions undoubtedly inspired the composer to create a highly artistic work. Such an authoritative expert on Vivaldi’s operatic work as A. Casella wrote that “Olympiad” stands out among other operas by the Italian composer for the incomparable beauty of the music.

Despite the composer approaching old age, his creative productivity remained amazing. It is performed in Verona "Tamerlane" And "Adelaide"(1735), and in Florence "Ginevra, Princess of Scots"(1736).

In 1740, Vivaldi finally abandoned work in "Ospedale della Pieta" and left for Vienna, to the court of Emperor Charles VI, his longtime and, importantly, powerful admirer.

But, alas, the rosy plans of the great composer were not destined to come true. Arriving in Vienna, he no longer found the monarch alive. In addition, by this time Vivaldi's popularity had begun to decline. The public's preferences changed, and baroque music quickly found itself on the periphery of fashion.

The sixty-three-year-old musician, who had never been in good health, was unable to recover from these blows of fate and fell ill with an unknown illness.

Vivaldi died on July 28, 1741 in Vienna from “internal inflammation” (as it was written in the funeral protocol), in the arms of his student and friend Anna Giraud. The funeral was modest: only a few bells sounded, and the procession consisted only of people hired to carry the coffin.

After his death, the musical heritage of Antonio Vivaldi lay in oblivion for almost 200 years, and only in the 20s of the 20th century, assemblages of the composer’s manuscripts were discovered by an Italian musicologist.

The Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi is known to us as the author of the violin concertos “The Four Seasons” and one of the main representatives of the violin art of Italy in the 18th century. Vivaldi experimented with musical timbres and gave the violin a new sound, making it more convenient and a truly concert instrument. His harmonious music is still listened to today in order to lift the mood, improve performance or relax.

Antonio Vivaldi was born in Venice in 1678. He was born at 7 months old, with a birth injury - a compressed chest; because of this, the musician suffered from asthma all his life. Attacks of suffocation made it practically impossible to walk up stairs or on foot. Due to poor health, the parents decided to appoint the boy to the priesthood: they assumed that having the rank, regardless of his health and success, would always ensure a position in society.

Vivaldi began serving in church at the age of 15, but music interested him much more than worship. He could, right during the mass, refer to an asthma attack and leave the altar for the sacristy to sketch a new fugue. As a result, the aspiring composer achieved his goal: young Vivaldi was banned from holding services.

The main music teacher in the life of Antonio Vivaldi was his father Giovanni Batista, who was a famous virtuoso violinist. The composer also had a companion and muse - singer Anna Giraud. She lived in Vivaldi's house, took care of his health and accompanied him on his travels.

In 1713, Antonio Vivaldi and his father were mentioned in a guide to Venice as the city's best violinists. By that time, Vivaldi had become an opera composer. In total he completed more than 400 major instrumental works. At the same time, Vivaldi was a co-owner of the Sant'Angelo Theater and handled its accounting. He also did not give up his work at the Venetian conservatory “Pieta”, for which he wrote music. In his free time, the composer staged his operas in other cities. It is surprising that all this was done by a man who, without outside help, could not walk from the door to the carriage that was delivered. By the way, the Sant'Angelo Theater was chosen by Vivaldi precisely because it was closest to his home.

In 1718, Antonio Vivaldi went to work in another Italian city - Mantua. Here he took the position of bandmaster at the court of the prince and governor. A few years later, Vivaldi returned to Venice, and from there he first brought his opera “Hercules on Thermodon” to Rome. The Romans liked the productions so much that the composer was granted an audience with the pope himself.

Many composers of that time experienced financial difficulties, this also affected Vivaldi. The changing musical tastes of the audience made his music obsolete, and the public acquired new idols. One of them was the German composer Johann Adolf Hasse, who was working in Venice at that time.

In 1740, Vivaldi went to Vienna with the hope of improving his financial situation at the court of Emperor Charles VI. However, soon after the composer's arrival, his powerful admirer died. The War of the Austrian Succession began in Vienna, and everyone forgot about Vivaldi. He died in poverty in 1741 and was buried in the pauper cemetery. His burial place in Vienna has not survived.

Father Giovanni Batista Vivaldi, violinist at St. Mark, taught his son to play the violin from childhood. Presumably the teacher of composition was Giovanni Legrenzi, as well as Arcangelo Coreli from Rome.

Vivaldi was tonsured a monk on September 18, 1693, and on the same date, but already in 1700, received the rank of deacon. Vivaldi was elevated to the priesthood on March 23, 1703. He celebrated his first mass in the Church of San Giovanni in Oleo. He was nicknamed the red priest because the shade of his hair was unusual for the Venetians. In 1703, on September 1, he was taken to the Pietta shelter as a violin maestro. From Countess Lucrezia Trevisan he received an order to serve 90 votive matins in the Church of San Giovanni in Oleo. Vivaldi received an award for teaching the viola d'amore in 1704 on August 17th. Having health problems, he was forced to refuse Lucrezia Trevisan's offer and stopped the service halfway through the votive matins. The year 1706 was remembered for the publication of the “Guide to Venice”, designed by the cartographer Coronelli, the publication of which spoke about the virtuoso violinist father and son Vivaldi, as well as the move from the old to newer spacious housing from Piazza Bragora in the neighboring parish of San Provolo.

He first came to Rome in 1723, and in 1724 for the second time, during which he attended the premiere of the opera Giustino, and also had an audience with Pope Benedict XIII. Opus VIII "Il Cimento dell'Armonia e dell'Invenzione" is published in Amsterdam in 1725. Four of the most famous concerts "The Four Seasons" were included in this cycle "The Art of Harmony and Invention", which already at that time made an indescribable impression on the listener with its passion and innovation.Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who was then working at the French Embassy, valued Vivaldi's music very much and even played some works from this cycle himself on his flute.Very popular were the concerts “Night” (La notte), “The Goldfinch” (Il cardellino), for flute and orchestra, a concert for two mandolins RV532, which stood out with its imagery and harmony, which was very characteristic of his works.“Gloria”, “Magnificat”, “Stabat Mater”, “Dixit Dominus” - spiritual works belonging to the hand of Vivaldi.

In the period 1703-1725, he was a teacher and then an orchestra conductor, leading concerts, starting in 1713, and directing the choir and orchestra at the “della Pieta” (Venice), an orphanage that bore the title of the best musical educational institution for girls. Vivaldi again served as bandmaster in 1735, but this time not for long.

The so-called dramatized “Lombard” style of performance was established by Vivaldi as the most authoritative representative of the violin art of the 18th century in Italy. He created the genre of instrumental solo concert, and he had a significant influence on the development of virtuoso violin playing technique. Being a master of the concerto grosso (ensemble-orchestral concert), Vivaldi defined the form for it in the form of a cycle in 3 parts, while defining a virtuoso part for the soloist.

He gained fame as a composer who was able to create an opera in 3 acts in 5 days and make a lot of variations on one theme during his lifetime. In Europe he became famous as a virtuoso violinist. Goldoni, whom Vivaldi simply cherished, after the death of the latter, in his memoirs he spoke of him as a “mediocre” composer. The memory of Vivaldi was preserved for a long time through a series of transcriptions made by J. S. Bach from the works of his predecessor, and only the 20th century was marked by the release of all instrumental opuses in one collection. The classical symphony was formed through the stage of Vivaldi's instrumental concerts. F. Malipiero headed the Italian Institute in Siena, named after Vivaldi.

Vivaldi finally left Venice in May 1740. Arriving in Vienna at an unfortunate period for himself, the period of the death of Emperor Charles VI and the beginning of the War of the Austrian Succession, Vivaldi found himself out of interest. On July 28, 1741, he died in Vienna, forgotten, poor and sick. The local doctor recorded death from internal inflammation. Vivaldi was buried for a small fee of 19 florins 45 kreuzers in a cemetery for the poor. Sisters Margarita and Zanetta only learned about Antonio's death a month later. On August 26, the bailiff made an inventory of his property in order to pay off his debts.

Because he was too keen on the opera stage, showing haste and illegibility, and often succumbed to criticism from his contemporaries, Vivaldi was nicknamed by his friends as Dirus (Furious) after he staged the opera Roland Furious. To date, the entire operatic wealth of the composer, estimated at 90 operas, has not yet been able to become the property of the opera stage of the world, and only in the 1990s Roland Furious was staged in San Francisco.

Vivaldi and his work greatly influenced musicians of various nations, especially the Germans, and not only their compatriot composers. The influence of Vivaldi’s work on J. S. Bach, who is one of the greatest German composers of the 18th century, is of great interest. In 1802, the first biography of Bach was published, in which its creator, Johann Nikolaus Forkel, emphasized the name of Vivaldi among all the masters influencing the young Bach. The study of Vivaldi's work is associated with the strengthening of themes characterized by instrumental virtuosity in the period 1717-1723, the so-called Köthen creative period. The influence was tracked not only in the mastery and modification of some techniques, everything was much more serious. Vivaldi's style was so warmly embraced by Bach that it became his personal language of music. Bach's closeness from the inside with Antonio's music is noticeable in various works, even in the “High” Mass in B minor. It is undeniable that the influence of Vivaldi's music on the German composer was very great. It is worth remembering the words of A. Casella, who spoke of Bach as the greatest admirer, who was almost the only one who at that time managed to appreciate the full genius of Vivaldi.

He created more than 40 operas, including “Roland the Imaginary Madman” (1714), “Nero Who Became Caesar” (1715), “The Coronation of Darius” (1716), “Deception Triumphant in Love” (1725), “ Farnace (1727), Cunegonde (1727), Olympiad (1734), Oracle in Messenia (1738), Theraspes (1739) - Theater Sant'Angelo in Venice. “Griselda” (1735), “Aristide” (1735) - San Samuele Theater in Venice. Oratorios - “Moses, God of Pharaoh” (1714), “Judith Triumphant” (1716), “Adoration of the Magi” (1722), etc.

Creator of 500 concertos, including: 44 for basso continuo and string orchestra, 352 for instrument accompanied by string orchestra or basso continuo (for cello - 26, for violin - 253, for transverse - 13, for bassoon - 38, for oboe - 12, for longitudinal flutes - 3, for mandolin - 1, for viol d'amore - 6), 49 concerti grossi, 32 for 3 or more instruments accompanied by a string orchestra or basso continuo, 38 for 2 instruments accompanied by a string orchestra or basso continuo (for violin - 25, for cello - 2, for horns - 2, for violin and cello - 3, for mandolins - 1).

4 violin concertos “The Seasons” are one of his most famous creations, an example of symphonic music. Vivaldi was one of the first to use horns, oboes, bassoons and other instruments as independent instruments rather than backup ones, so his contribution to the development of instrumentation was more than significant.

Vivaldi is the name of this composer that is familiar to all of us. It’s hard not to recognize his virtuosic violin works; they accompany us everywhere. This is because each of them is incredibly beautiful, unique, but at the same time recognizable due to the composer’s unified style. The list of Vivaldi's works is extensive and varied. These are operas, concerts, sonatas and short plays, some of which have not survived to this day.

The article presents a list of famous works by Vivaldi and provides information on how and when he wrote them.

The life of a great creator

Antonio Lucio Vivaldi, an Italian composer, was born on March 4, 1678 in the beautiful city of Venice. His father was a hereditary barber, but was also fond of playing the violin. And the hobby attracted him so much that he became a virtuoso violinist, very famous in his city.

He passed on his talent, along with the instrument, to his son, and he, increasing the talents of his parent, managed not only to play the violin, but also to compose unique melodies.

Antonio became interested in writing musical texts in his youth - he composed simple “songs”, motives, sometimes he wrote them down, sometimes he simply memorized them. Soon he began to come up with full-fledged works that appealed to the taste of the Venetian musical elite.

Vivaldi was invited to work as a composer at the Pieta Conservatory, where abandoned and orphaned girls studied music. It was for them that Antonio wrote 2 concerts a month, and they studied these creations as etudes. This is how numerous works of Vivaldi came into the world. The list is endless, there are incredibly many of them, they are somewhat similar to each other, but at the same time, each is unique.

Concerto grosso

Antonio Vivaldi is rightfully considered the founder of a separate musical genre - concerto grosso, which translates as “big concert”. The bottom line is that during the performance of the work, scores alternate in which the entire orchestra performs and individual parts in which one or another instrument performs as a soloist (in the case of Vivaldi, this is most often the violin). This is a variation of the previously existing trio sonata, where the first movement is fast, the second is slow and the third is fast again. Only now its sound has become more multifaceted and interesting due to such color scheme. The list of works by Antonio Vivaldi includes 517 concertos, which are divided into the following categories:

• 44 concertos for basso continuo and string orchestra;
• 49 concerto grosso;
• 38 concertos for two instruments with string orchestra or basso continuo accompaniment;
• 32 concertos for three instruments and accompaniment in the form of basso continuo or string orchestra;
• 352 concertos for one instrument and accompaniment as basso continuo or string orchestra.

The concert list of Vivaldi's works is still almost entirely the property of music schools and colleges. Children learn and play concertos, thereby improving their virtuosity and sound technique.

Operas

Antonio Vivaldi was a composer who could write an entire opera in three days - this is precisely the fame that spread about him throughout Venice. And it was true. He really quickly and at the same time talentedly composed such complex vocal and instrumental works, which were a great success.

The composer has 90 operas, many of which are undeservedly forgotten. Others still enjoy success in the leading theaters of the world.

Let's look at the operatic list of Vivaldi's works, touching only on the most famous creations:

1. "Furious Roland"
2. "Pharnaces, Ruler of Pontus."
3. "Olympics".
4. "Griselda."
5. "Aristide."
6. "Tamerlane".
7. "Moses, God of Pharaoh."
8. "Adoration of the Magi."
9. "Judith Triumphant"

Other works

Amazingly, given the pace at which Vivaldi wrote to order, he still had time and inspiration to compose works for his own pleasure! So to speak, for the soul, the composer wrote more than 100 sonatas, as well as serenades, cantatas, symphonies and small plays. But it is worth presenting one more biographical fact about Antonio - he was a priest. He never deviated from the church, so he wrote many Catholic sequences of Stabat Mater.

For the august persons

Thanks to his incomparable talent and genius, Vivaldi quickly became a favorite composer and musician. His creations were simply adored by Louis XV. Antonio wrote a serenade-cantata “Gloria and Igomenaeus” for the king’s wedding day. A year later, for the birthday of the two august princesses, Vivaldi wrote another serenade - “The Celebrating Seine”. The next creation was already created specifically for Charles VI and was called “Zither”. They say that the emperor was so imbued with the composer’s creativity and personality that he could talk with him all day long. He awarded Vivaldi a gold medal and a knighthood, and also invited him to Vienna. For this, the composer sent him a copy of the work “Zither”.

Seasons

Let's move on to the list of Vivaldi's musical works that have achieved timeless success. We are talking about the famous “Seasons”, which received such a simple and uncomplicated name only because there are 12 of them in the opus.

In the early 1720s, Vivaldi began writing a new opus number 8. He called it “The Controversy of Harmony with Invention,” but these “sonatas” clearly had a seasonal context. The fact is that before each of them was performed, a sonnet was read out, in which a specific time of year was clearly represented. Presumably, Antonio himself wrote these sonnets, but hid his authorship. What is Opus No.8?

These are four concerts, each of which consists of three parts. The first is called "Allegro", the second - "Largo" or "Adagio" and the third again "Allegro" or "Presto". That is, the structure is like that of an ordinary sonata or concerto grosso - the two outer parts are faster, and the middle is slow and drawn-out.

Often “Seasons” are heard in films, TV shows, they are performed at social events or simply enjoyed at home.

Conclusion

A complete list of Vivaldi's works, indicating the title of each work, would be incredibly huge and would not fit into a single article. It is difficult to imagine how talented and brilliant this man was, how masterly he was with the instrument and his own inspiration. He gave the world a rich heritage in the form of countless concerts, sonatas, operas and other musical creations that are played and listened to with great pleasure today.